R O B M Y E R S , N C R - S A R E

K A R E N S C A N L O N , C T I C

C H A D W A T T S , C T I C

A L A N W E B E R , M A R C - I V

Trends With Cover Crops: Results of Two National Cover Crop Surveys

SARE/CTIC Cover Crop Survey

• For the 2012-13 survey, 759 farmers who use cover crops completed the survey

• Survey was done both online and through paper copies at Midwest farmer meetings

• For the 2013-14 survey, over 1700 farmers using cover crops answered survey questions; the survey also includes a smaller set of questions for farmers who have not yet used cover crops – over 500 responses

• The 2013-14 survey is an online survey with wide national distribution

COVER CROP IMPACT ON CORN AND SOYBEAN YIELDSIN THE DROUGHT YEAR OF

2012

Impact of Cover Crops on Corn and Soybean 2012 Yields*

126.2115.1

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

All respondents

Bus

hels

per

acr

e

corn with covers corn without covers

47.1

42.2

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

All respondents

Bus

hels

per

Acr

e

Soybeans with coversSoybeans without covers

Based on 234Respondents

Based on 196Respondents

*Yields are for 2012 on farms where farmers had side by side fields with similar management and varieties, other than using cover crops or not

States affected by the 2012 drought

Drought States Commodity Crop Yieldsas Impacted by Cover Crops in 2012

• Broke the data down to look at yield impact in seven of the states hit hardest by drought

(specifically NE, KS, SD, MO, IA, IL, and IN)

How can cover crops help in a drought?

Benefits that may occur from cover crop in first year Deep rooting cover crops lead to deeper rooting cash crops Residue blanket reduces evaporation Possible changes in mycorrhizae and overall soil biology

Long term benefits Increased organic matter Better rainfall infiltration Better retention of moisture in the soil profile

Better soil health Less restrictions to root growth Use of cover crops is often accompanied by other changes, like the

move to no-till (each tillage pass causes the loss of soil moisture)

COVER CROP IMPACT ON CORN AND SOYBEAN YIELDS

IN 2013

Impacts of Cover Crops on Corn and Soybean Yields in 2013

164.9159.9

0.0

20.0

40.0

60.0

80.0

100.0

120.0

140.0

160.0

180.0

Corn with Covers Corn without Covers

49.447.2

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

Soybeans with Covers Soybeans without Covers

Based on 529Respondents

Based on 570Respondents

Preliminary data from 2013-14 SARE/CTIC cover crop survey

2013 Corn Yields by State

Preliminary data from 2013-14 SARE/CTIC cover crop survey

Preliminary data from 2013-14 SARE/CTIC cover crop survey

Preliminary data from 2013-14 SARE/CTIC cover crop survey

Vertical Tillage

6%

Rotational No-till13%

Reduced Tillage16%

Conventional Tillage23%

Continuous No-till42%

Predominant Tillage System Used With Cover Crops in 2013

Preliminary data from 2013-14 SARE/CTIC cover crop survey

Seeding with Liquid Manure

1%Precision Seeding with

Corn or Soybean Planter

3%

Broadcast Seeding with Seeds left on the

Surface12%

Aerial Seeding14%

Broadcast Seeding with Light

Incorporation24%

Drilling46%

Primary Method of Seeding Cover Crops in 2013

Preliminary data from 2013-14 SARE/CTIC cover crop survey

Farmers Not Yet Using Cover Crops

105

113

124

128

137

139

148

175

186

188

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200

Farm management / partner views on cover crops

Amount and availability of cover crop information

Amount and availability of financial incetives

General interest in cover cropping

Perception that cover crops reduce yields in the followingcash crop

Access to trusted technical assistance providers for covercrop advice

Perception that cover crops are tough to terminate

Availability of planting equipment and service providers

Perception that cover crops are costly

Perception that cover crops make planting more difficult

Rating the Factors that May Limit Cover Crop Adoption

Preliminary data from 2013-14 SARE/CTIC cover crop survey

Cover Crops Role of Ag Retailers

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

Encouraging farmers to plant cover crops

Advising farmers on what cover crop seedto purchase

Providing cover crop seeding services

Providing cover crop termination adviceand services

Helping to adjust nutrient managementplans to account for cover crop nutreint…

Helping assess and understand soilchanges resulting from cover crop use

Non-Users Users

Preliminary data from 2013-14 SARE/CTIC cover crop survey

Median Cover Crop Seeding Costs

$-

$5.00

$10.00

$15.00

$20.00

$25.00

$30.00

Seed costs Establishment costs (if youdid pay somebody)

Establishment costs (whatyou are willing to pay

somebody)

Wha

t far

mer

s ar

e pa

ying

or

will

ing

to p

ay($

/acr

e)

Preliminary data from 2013-14 SARE/CTIC cover crop survey

Roller - crimping1%

Other5%

Mowing10%

I prefer to plant cover crops that winter-kill

19%

Tillage20%

Herbicide45%

Primary Cover Crop Termina on Methods Used in 2013

Preliminary data from 2013-14 SARE/CTIC cover crop survey

Cover crop cost share

14%

8%

15%63%

How Financial Assistance is Used

Yes - I initially received cost-sharebut now I largely self-fund

Yes, I have only planted cover cropsusing financial assistance

Yes, I have periodically received andused financial assistance

No - I have not received financialassistance to plant cover crops

Preliminary data from 2013-14 SARE/CTIC cover crop survey

What cover crop farmers would tell their neighbor

It is a systems approach based on a return to the way nature is intended to work and therefore can be extremely successful. If you expect to be able to farm your land in 50 years, or

have your child or grandchild farm it, then you need to use cover crops. There is a wide array of cover crops that can improve every

rotation and soil with a little bit of planning. Keeping the soil covered year-round provides food for the

life in the soil, which in turn provides nutrients for your crops.We must take better care of the soil we depend on.

Visit www.sare.org/covercropsfor full survey results